Training doctors, nurses can help boost organ donation rates in Hong Kong, says expert
Doctor from Spain, which has one of world’s highest donation rates, says this method is more effective than changing the law or establishing a registry
A better understanding of organ transplants among doctors and nurses would help boost the donation rate more than by merely changing the law or setting up a registry, a top Spanish expert said.
His suggestion came as Hong Kong’s government is considering an “opt-out” plan under which citizens would be considered as potential donors unless they specify otherwise.
“Why [do some] countries have lower rates? It’s not the culture – it’s the lack of [a proper] system at the hospital level,” said Dr Marti Manyalich, president of the Donation and Transplantation Institute, a non-profit group based in Barcelona which promotes organ donations.
Hong Kong’s 41 public hospitals have only nine organ donation coordinators whose job is to identify potential donors and communicate with donors, recipients and their families.
In comparison, there are 500 professionals, made up of mostly doctors and nurses from intensive care wards, with similar responsibilities in Spanish hospitals.
Manyalich said the ratio should be seven professionals for every million people, and that by that measure, Hong Kong would need at least 50. “If there are more [coordinators], the number of donors will increase,” he added.